their first budding forth, to the production of ripe fruit. Man, in the Word of God, is frequently compared to a tree, and indeed is so called, as where it is said, that "the trees of the Lord are full," that is, full of that vitality of good and truth that gives birth to righteousness and peace. Hence such are called "the cedars of Lebanon which he hath planted." (Psalm civ. 16.) "He," that is, the man who "delights in the law of the Lord, shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water," &c. (Psalm i. 3.) In this passage we cannot fail to observe that the celestial paradise of the soul is outwardly shadowed forth by the terrestrial paradise; and that the internal beauty of the one is exhibited by the external luxuriance of the other. Ripe fruits are sweet, wholesome, and good for food; but unripe, being sour and harsh to the taste, are unwholesome. When the affections of love and charity predominate over truth and doctrine, then a sweetness, as of ripe fruit, gives a softness and charm to our words; but when doctrines are allowed to bear sway, to the exclusion of love and charity, our words are then harsh, sharp, and cutting; they partake much of the taste of unripe or sour fruit,
O may we never forget that the chief of truths is love! When the pure love of God and man is conjoined with truth, there is a rich flavour and sweetness in all that we do or say. It is because infinite love is concealed in all the words of Divine Revelation, that David says, "How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth." (Psalm cxix. 103.) It is the ripe fruits that the soul of the Christian desires; and in our
